The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-06-05

Hit Will De q regular hoe-down,n continued
he, ''and I've jest laid awake and tho't about
your goin. Say yes"
Her eyes at last beamed the assen. her lips
would not utter, and he kissed her passloDateiy,
saying:
Nance, when yer married ter me I'll know
what heaven is. I've made lot of money, but
leave hyur for spell, and of do want ye ter
stand before the parson before 60"
''Oh, Nick" was all she could say.
Don't ye fret. I've quit the whisky, fer We
made enough to stock little farm, and when
GIT shet of these yer revenoors III never do
hev ter git away. / don't keer ter leave ye hyur
ceptin es my wife, Nance"
Il can't What would Uncle Pleas say And
| yet"
I'll fix it with Pleas. and hits jest nobody
else's bzness Eff We love me like do you ye
won't say no. honey"
Nor did she. Five minutes later Nick was
striding back through the house when Pleas
PadGett Hospitality bent, called out:
Stay ontwell after supper, Nick"
mo; can't, reckon. III see We one day this
week about me and Nance. Evening to ye
both"
And he off down the road at eallOp.
do you know that thar man powerful we'll,
Brother Padgettl" asked Parson Carney.
Wall, he and my niece Nance, hyur hev been
goin' tergether good bit, so l mout say es do
| know suthin' of him, and VT not so turrlble
| much, nuther."
The Parson frowned at his dusty brogans, and
appeared to reflect. At last he said euigmat-
Ically:
Brother Padsett. thur air more things gon
on In these low grounds of sorrer than any one
but the good Lord knows on. Therefore we hev
erblieed ter keep our lamps trimmed and a burn
! IN, and ter watch and pray unceasinly agln the
besetments of Satan"
Here supper was announced, nor did the Par
son see fit TO further unbosom himself Yet his
eyes rested upon Nancy good deal that evening.
".
Nancy, about this time received a letter from
Huse Woody. Its tone was purely one of broth
erly In terest. In conclusion he repeated earn
estly his hope that she would ever look on him
as a friend who, if she ever needed help in time
of trial-woud always be glad to render it.
She sighed as she Iaboriously deciphered the
meaning of his cramped and misshapen words
not regretfully. but in sympathetic pity for
poor Huse." How her heart thrilled under the
serene consciousness of Nick's affection, despite
the vague uneasiness inspired by his irregular
pursuits and habits. The thought of their sud
! den marriage though startling, not now
pleasing, under the conviction that when Nick
was all her own he would reform and they
would be happy III each other.
She did not see him again until the night of
! Dan Cannons dancing party. According to ar
rangement she dressed and walked over there
/ about shutdown. By dark the puncheon floor was
! cleared, two fddlers esconced themselves a
| corner, while on either side of the cabin two
| groups ranged themselves, the "boys' here and
/ the girls" there. Half dozen older women
were 'fxin'" the supper in the kitchen. The
music began with the good old mountain tune of
''Git your pardners," shouted Dave Cannon
/ selecting somebody elses wife for his own; and
thus the festivities commenced
An hour iator rattle CT hoofs announced
! Nick's arrival with two companions, moonshin-
ers like himself They were armed with long
rifles, but leaned their weapons in a corner and
mingled with the company on easy, familiar
terms. Nick made his way to Nancy once,
and eagerly told her that the hour had come for
their marriage to take place.
Then thar revenooers air pushin' we'uns
master Close and ter-morrer hev erbleeged
ter git away for while But you'll stay hyur
on ontwell l git back. l seen that thar
Parson Carney terday, and 1 'spect
hin him Dv hy ,sr m rs. He would
told him you willn' and would be on hand.
Then he give in. Pears like es though I'd seen
him somew hur before, yet Ireckon hit can't be.
Now, eff you'd only dance o reel, Nance, while
we're waitiniv
But Nancy. despite her tremor and bushes,
was firm this point. The impressive thought
that her days of maidenhood would SO soon be
at an end made her reserved and silent Nick's
spirits, on the contrary. rose and soon everyone
in the house knew that their frolic would in
clude the additional excitement of a wedding
Pleas Padgett and his wife were sent for and
though the dancing went on a general air of ex-
pectancy lowered over ALL pending the arrival of
Parson Carney. Comments ike this were heard
freely:
Ter think he'd come to dance ter marry
Nick Borun, and he so powerful down
dancin'."
Surely the Parson had some special reason for
thus compromising with his pre- udice, to
say conscience. in the affair.
Buck Taylor. one of the moonshiners and
strapping damsel of the Cove named Coo. Crow
hoedown 1t was trial of mutual skill and en-
durance, with the odds somewhat in favor of
Miss Coot. In the midst of it, subdued com
motion at the door announced the arrival of the |
Parson. The music ceased with a discouraged |
wall and the rival dancers, painting and |
flushed, fell back among the spectators along tho |
wall
Parson Carney came slowly in with an elon-
gated visage and disappearing eye, and
veyed the Nick came forward once.
THANK ye fur comm. Parson. We won't |
keep ye hyur long onless We nachilly keer ter |
stay: and when We do go after the jobs DONE |
thurll he suthin In yer pocket more nor ye had |
when @ came"
The Parson eazed at the reckless moonshiner
sterny, when Dave Cannon, feeling himself a |
backslider in the preacher eyes, came sheepishy
forward. saying:
.Hy're ye Parson, I'm RELY glad ter see We |
hyur Though I'm Methodist still list CANT |
reconcile myself that hit air wrong fer the |
young folks Ter dance, and now we're goin' ter |
hev weddin'. and parson hand ter set |
thish yer party off jest know hit air pintedy
all right"
The parson nodded coldy. then. advancing to
the middle of the room, said:
Hit posters me ter many dyin' souls |
a sarvin' of the devil We air dom hyur ter
night, and if hit wurn't that hev a solemn |
duty to perform, that my conshene wont let |
git shet of airy other way, wouldn't be hyur |
myself"
The Parson spoke with great gravity, and his
auditors began to feel though he alluded to
something beyond disapproval of dane
ing. Amid profound silence he took out and
wiped his glasses. put them on. drew a small
Bible from his pocket NancyS heart was In her
throat. She grasped her uncles hand and wrung
it almost unconsciously, while her sweet, serious
face grew slowly pale.
Was she-Nancy Padgett-to be Nancy Pad
gett more forever? She could hardly realize
the iInminence of the change; and. in
dream she gave her hand to Nick when he came
for her. The next moment they standing
before the tall. spare, severe-looking preacher.
who again spoke:
My friends, eittin' married air the solermu-
est thing. ceptin' death that kin happn us.
Hev you, Nancy Padgett. thot what you
air about to do q yer oughter? Does you know
that when you air once tied thsh yer man
that thars power thish yer yearth kin
loose We. ceptin DEATH"
He paused apparently for answer. while
Nick showed mute signs Of Impotence. Nancys
tongue seemed glued to the roof of her mouth.
Had not the preacher ought to know she would
not be standing there if she had not already
cded upon these things? What could he mean?